Crete (Kriti) is the largest
Greek island. It is the border between the Aegean and the Libyan seas and
between Europe and Africa. The climate is considered to be one of the
moldest and healthiest in Europe.The island is very mountainous. Deep
gorges split its huge mountains (Lefka Ori, Psiloritis, Dikti) leading to
fertile valleys, creating a landscape full of surprises, which changes
minute by minute, here bare and wild, there green and peaceful. More than
3000 large and small caves, several of them with impressive stalactites
and stalagmites and os special interest, honeycomb the mountains.
Untrodden rocky coasts, vast sandy beaches, and pebbled shores define the
seaside. Dry-stone farm buildings, villages perching on high plateaus,
monasteries, isolated castles and chapels dot the countryside. Villages
drowning in green, olive green, vine green, citrus green, and vegetable
green, add living colour to sometimes harsh views. Villages in which
life’s traditional Cretan rhythms have not changed in centuries: coffee
under the shade of old trees, traditional dances, sousta and pentozali to
the sound of the Cretan lyre and the sweetness of Cretan wine.Old cities
hide behind walls, their complicated narrow alleys winding past squares,
churches, and the ruins of palaces. The main cities-ports like port town
of Hania, built on top of ancient Kydonia, picturesque Rethimno, noisy
Iraklio, cosmopolitan Agios Nikolaos, and beautiful Sitia grew up on the
north side of the island and only peaceful Ierapetra is on the shores of
the Libyan Sea, facing Africa. They are cities living the fast pace of
modern Life, developing day by day. Shops selling folk art, textiles,
pottery, leather goods and department stores with luxury items spring up
like mushrooms. Green grocers bring the rich production of the fertile
valleys and greenhouses to the growing market places.Days awash in
brilliant sunlight, emerald clear waters, star spangled nights redolent
with the smells of jasmine and honey-suckle, sometimes restful and
sometimes set to a rap beat: this is Crete remembered.